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Sunday, March 06, 2016

Addison Fox: Growth

As a writer, my work is dependent on the observations of others. What
motivates them. What really motivates
them. And how those motivations ultimately affect their behavior.

For a writer, this is rich and fertile ground. The character who is
brash and unpleasant often hides something dark or embarrassing beneath. A
cynic’s loud belligerence is often interpreted as self-confident, yet often
masks insecurity. And the one who holds an idyllic –nearly manic—outlook on
life is seeking a sense of order that’s never truly attainable.

It’s the exploration of these traits that make up one more tool in the
writers toolbox. But it’s conveying it on the page that carries the challenges.

How do you show a character’s growth if they’re so unpleasant on page
one the reader has no interest in continuing?

That’s where it’s essential as the author to drop important clues that
keep us interested in these vulnerable humans who will grow through the course
of the novel. That brash woman who never has a kind word for anyone? She’s the
first to reach down and pick up a child’s dropped toy. The loud, overbearing
cynic? He’s got a small dog he can’t lavish enough love and affection on. And
the manically cheerful one? She pours herself into music, pulling the sweetest,
darkest notes from a violin.

In these and so many other ways we can show the person beneath the exterior.
The shell they show the world versus the person they truly are. (As a side note,
the movie THE PROPOSAL did this extraordinarily well with Sandra Bullock’s
character.)

As a writer, it’s a gift to play with these elements, bringing them
alive on the page. It’s that exploration of the human experience that makes my
job, day in and day out, always unique. And always changing with each story I
tell.

Thanks for joining me today! And feel free to drop in and share your
favorite character to hate – but who changed your opinion by the end!

XO,

Addison

Despite early ambitions of
being a diver, a drummer or a doctor, Addison
Fox happily discovered she was more suited to life as a writer. She
lives in Dallas and - thankfully - doesn't have to operate on anyone. You can
find her at her home on the web at www.addisonfox.com. Her latest release, COLTON’S SURPRISE
HEIR, from Harlequin Romantic Suspense is on shelves now. You can visit her at
her website at www.addisonfox.com